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Patana
NEWS
Friday 21st May 2021
Volume 23 Issue 31
www.patana.ac.th
CSL WEEK 4 SURVEY RESULTS By Cross Campus Principal and Acting Secondary Principal Helen Thew
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Also in this issue...
Karting Champion/New Sports League for 2021/Silver Award Reflections 21/05/2021
Bangkok Patana School News
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
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CSL Week 4 Survey Results Helen Thew, Cross Campus Principal and Acting Secondary Principal
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hank you for taking the time to complete the CSL 3.0 Week 4 survey. We received 594 responses from parents and 469 student responses. It is good to see how in sync the parents and the students are.
Below are the ‘headline’ results from the latest survey. Which Year group is your child in/Which Year group am I in - Primary
PARENTS
STUDENTS
The amount of learning is age appropriate (the task can be completed in the time given)
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Which Year group is your child in/Which Year group am I in - Secondary
The teacher is communicating and feeding back in a variety of ways
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Thanks for your comments and suggestions in the survey. These are being addressed as we continue to modify and adapt our CSL programme. We have very much appreciated getting your feedback on Continuing Student Learning (CSL 3.0). I end with a quote from a Year 3 student who I feel sums up how a lot of us are feeling during CSL, “I enjoy online learning, but I enjoy normal school better because you can see your friends and play with them.” Hoping our Patana families continue to stay safe and well and I wish you a relaxing weekend!
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New Athletic League Starting 2021BMAC Cindy Adair, Cross Campus Assistant Principal Sports and Extra-curricular Activities
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angkok Patana School has a long and proud sporthelp them better prepare for SEASAC and/or FOing history and never is that more evident than when BISIA we come up against our major local rivals – the NIST • New competition formats to suit each sports’ needs Falcons or the ISB Panthers. The crowds roar, the scorelines are tight, our student athletes lift their game and the • A proper Season 4 to ensure year-round sport for friendships forged are long-lasting. In 2021/22 Bangkok students in Year 5 – 9, once Senior exam year stuPatana will be strengthening that friendship by joining todents have shifted their focus gether with NIST and ISB to launch a new student athletic • More capacity to enter B teams where we have the conference in Bangkok, known as the Bangkok Metropolstudent numbers interested itan Athletic Conference or “BMAC” for short. After many happy years in BISAC, this league was no longer meetThe BMAC mascot is the Hanuman, the ancient Thai ing our needs and this new smaller league of like-minded and Hindu monkey god. This god is said to be powerschools offers us the chance to “re-set” and examine what ful, playful, mischievous, humble and full of valour. Worthy kind of sporting experiences we want to offer our students traits indeed for our student-athletes to aspire to! in the 2020’s and beyond. We have also been joined by ICS and RIS who will be Sport Members in 2021/22. Some exciting developments of the new conference include: • New age groupings to better manage current bottlenecks and acknowledge the physical difference in students as they grow and develop • New sports at Under 11 level including touch, volBangkok Patana remains fully committed to SEASAC leyball and badminton and FOBISIA, our other sporting conference affiliations, • A re-adjustment of which sports fall in which sea- and this will see us continue to seek out, host and particisons, to minimise the impact of seasonal AQI con- pate in friendlies and invitationals with all schools throughout Bangkok. cerns • Exciting mid-season invitationals for Varsity teams to
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Grad’21 Raise Funds and Plant Trees Charles (Charlie) Golsby, 13T his year, our cohort decided to raise money for two incredibly worthy causes: Thomas House - a school in Maekok that provides an education to underprivileged children in a remote region of Thailand, and Bangkok Patana School's very own Six Day Staff, who have worked tirelessly to keep the school clean and safe, particularly during the pandemic. The money raised will go to a fund which helps finance their childrens' education. Additional-
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ly, we plan to plant a few trees near Senior Studies, along with a plaque as a lasting memory of Grad’21 Thanks to the generosity of our Year group, we managed to raise over THB 70,000! This money was split equally among the two causes. We're incredibly proud of this achievement, and hope that it leaves a lasting, positive impact.
SCAN TO LEARN HOW TO ACCESS THE LIBRARY’S SELECTION OF E-BOOKS IN SORA
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HM King Rama X Royal Karting Champion 2020 Maarten Vliegen, Patana Parent fter a very strong first season in the Junior Open class, Year 9 student Nandhavud (Jem) Bhirombhakdi received the King Rama X Royal Champion 2020 Trophy during a broadcasted ceremony. Remarkable is that in 2019, Jem won the King’s trophy in the Mini Rok class as well.
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Winning the Kart Championship of Thailand and receiving the King’s trophy is the highest honor for Thai racers. During the same ceremony, Jem Bhirombhakdi (Junior Open) and Year 7 student Taiyo Vliegen (Mini Rok) received the “Thai Inter” award from the Royal Automobile Association of Thailand for successfully representing Thailand in races overseas.
is now Closed! Log in to Firefly and view all the information and links to performances here Total number of videos - 170 Total comments - 2,200 Total views - 21,535
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CAT/CAS CORNER
Human Trafficking in 2021: Are We Past it or Not? Pon Pingkarawat, 12H HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AFRICA: BURKINA FASO
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Blessing” is a woman, part of a group of 20 similar to her, who voluntarily moved to Burkina Faso under the belief that they would work normal jobs such as a hair salon worker or a saleswoman, but instead deceived and forced to become prostitutes in remote parts of the country. “Nobody comes to your rescue”, said “Blessing”. She recalls being forced to sleep with up to 20 men a night for less than USD$2 (THB 60-62), in appalling conditions far away and cut off from any chance at help. It was only when she was left alone in December 2019 that she managed to escape the mine with six other women, ending up in a UN office in the nation’s capital, Ouagadougou. Why is there such a big problem, then, in Burkina Faso in terms of Human Trafficking? One could point to the low GDP per capita, with 40 percent of citizens living below the poverty line. Or the shockingly low Human Development Index score (HDI) could be to blame, with the country ranking 185th out of 188 countries registered [4]. Although both of these could be to blame, the biggest problem for Burkina Faso’s fight against human trafficking is the underfunded and undermanned security force. As of May 2021, Burkina Faso is embroiled in a bloody conflict against a rebel jihadist group in the north and east
regions of the country. The nation relies massively on its former colonisers, France, to train and arm its forces [3]. Because the majority of the security forces are focused on quelling the insurgency, there is little to no support to help women like “Blessing”, who then have to rely on the patronage of the local people alone [2]. Burkina Faso also is experiencing rapid urbanisation due to its relatively new gold and precious metal mining industry. The first mines started exporting gold in 2007, and have since contributed to the economic boom of Burkina Faso, even under the insurgency which has been a constant issue since the late 1980’s. With all of these factors combined, it’s no surprise that an underfunded and volatile Burkina Faso becomes an easy target for ravenous prospectors to take advantage of women and force them into poverty or trafficking. Next week’s Article: Human Trafficking in Asia (Cambodia) [5] U.S. Department of State (2020) [6] humantrafficking.org (20 April 2006) [7] Unknownat the Star (11 May 2021), Retrieved May 11, 2021
Photo courtesy of Oxfam
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Melody, 11S
Sebastian, 7L
Chang Wins House Photography Contest Rory Stewart, Secondary Mathematics Teacher, Phuket House Leader Thank you to everyone that took part in the CSL House Photography Competition, we had over 300 entries! Mr Corker and Ms Thew picked the best photos from each House in Key Stage 3 and for Key Stage 4 and Senior Studies combined. Thank you very much to our two judges for all their work. A huge congratulations to the following students who took the winning photos for each of their Houses:
Phuket – Nahm in 7R and AJ, 10W Samui – Emily, 8T and Yerin,10R The overall results were • Chang • Lanta • Phuket • Samui
Chang - Sebastian, 7L and Melody,11S Lanta – Pin, 9D and Reem in 11P
Reem, 11P
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Pin, 9D
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AJ, 10S Nahm, 7R
Yerin, 10R
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Emily, 8T
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Year 5 Rainforest Short Story Second Prize Winner A Monkey’s Smile Auraya (Zoe) Yongvanich, 5K
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reside high up in the canopy. I am one rare, exceptional monkey. I am one of only 250 remaining in my species. I wear azure eyes. I have minuscule fingers. Strange, because the rest of my family had elongated fingers. Usually, I would have a prehensile tail adapted for an arboreal lifestyle, instead I have a linear, flat-ended tail. I am also expected to have the ability to swing from branch to branch, yet I do not have any such talents. I am different from everybody else - I have no family left. I lost them to those nefarious, apathetic men, that were armed with those steel contraptions that snipe blazing fireballs. That is why I have such an extremely deep hatred for them. I am the only one left in my troop. Swinging, swaying, dangling … all the things I do to keep myself preoccupied and joyous. Sadly, ever since I witnessed my family die in the blink of an eye, I cannot bring myself to smile anymore. I ponder to myself, why? Am I still traumatized from when those cruel, imbecilic hunters murdered my beloved ones? Smiling is so simple! Fake smiles, especially. I keep striving to be my before-self. The effervescent version of myself. The one that could smile at the drop of a hat. Nevertheless, I still can’t do it. Today is a somber day, my vision is murky in the rain. As the heavens crack open, I can hear drizzle, drop, plop. I try to imagine a sunlit day, when I, for once, am finally feeling warm. Be that as it may, I can not. Drizzle, drop, plop, drizzle, drop, plop. Therefore, I lie down and forest bathe, except, I am looking at the emergent layer, not the canopy. All I can see are rain droplets aiming at me like those fireballs that those men used to take my family away from me. Like a wounded soldier, I pull myself up. I see a scrawny branch … stretching from my inferior shelter to a ravishing, roofed home. Now that is joy! Astonishing. Did that thought actually come from me? Keenly, I stagger across the tightrope-like branch. One foot forward, and then the other. One foot forward, and then the other. The performance is repeated until I arrive in paradise. For the first time in forever, I feel at peace and forget about that gruesome memory of torment. The ready made camp makes me feel endearment. I am finally able to crack a slight smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a bunch of ripe bananas sitting right there. I dart towards the vibrant yellowness and start to devour them. Every single one of them are of immaculate taste and of the perfect ripeness. Almost as if... it is too good to be true. Could this culinary heaven just appear out of nowhere? The whole thing is so suspicious. Perhaps I am overthinking everything, and this is a gift from god. Abruptly, I hear someone shout. “HEY, look up there! We've lured it into our trap. Hurry up and SHOOT!” I closed my eyes and blissfully smiled from ear to ear. I can finally see my family again, high up in the wispy clouds. POW!
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We are: Relentless Mark Potter, Head Football Coach
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he third of our behaviours that we will ask our players to be is relentless, being relentless in their desire to help their teammates, relentless in the pursuit of improvement and ultimately relentless in their pursuit to win.
giving it their all. I can see if you are not tracking back, I can tell if you have not really challenged for that header and I know l if you could have got out to block a shot. After recognising these missed opportunities how do we coach them? A few strategies could be:
NEVER GIVE IN • Constant reinforcement of standards, Yesterday evening I was lucky enough to get a couple of hours to watch the new documentary, Sir Alex Fergu• Praising all players who display relentlessness, son: Never Give In. It was a compelling watch detailing • Designing practices that allow for quick transitions his early days, sectarianism, his successes and failures, up to his life-threatening brain haemorrhage. There was one • Incentivising relentless displays. golden thread to pick, namely the importance he put in ‘character’. In fact, it was rare he spoke about the techni- GOALS FOR BLOCKS! cal and tactical traits he looked for in players. He wantRecently we were doing a simple finishing practice with ed players that would stand up for themselves. He asked one of our groups where we had a player receiving the players to remember their journeys and most importantly ball to finish and a defender arriving to block the shot. The players that would never give in. first couple of minutes went by with most players managTo link relentlessness to our philosophy we have paired it ing to get a shot off, the defenders were not too interested up with transitions. We want players that are bold in pos- in blocking the shot, they were waiting for their chance session who are willing to break lines with runs, passes to shoot. This is understandable but affects the realism of or dribbles. We do not mind gambling with the ball, but the practice. I decided to add in a rule change; if you we have to know that there is a chance it will go wrong. managed to block a shot you got a goal for your team. Transitioning from attack to defence is the best opportunity You would be amazed at how this galvanised the defendto observe our players ‘character’ or how relentless they ers. In complete contrast we had players rushing out to the are. Below is an excellent example from Wayne Rooney. ball, getting anything in the way to stop the ball going in the goal. In one simple tweak, we had managed to encourage relentlessness. I DO NOT EXPECT US TO WIN BUT I DO EXPECT US TO TRY Very early in tenure here we took a group of boys to a tournament. We were playing well until we came up against the eventual winners who outplayed us, they were superior in most areas. This, of course, is absolutely fine and the way sports should be. To my great surprise the more the other team became on top in the game the more ‘injuries’ we were getting (I can assure you, we couldn’t get close enough for there to be any physical contact). Our players were giving in. Usually, when watching a game, I can tell if players are
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Finish this article on Firefly here.
Bangkok Patana School News
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Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Silver Reflections T
he Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE) is a non-formal education and learning framework operating in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognised and celebrated. The
YU LING (NICOLE) LU, 11M The Silver DofE Award was a memorable and rewarding experience. Through continuous service, physical and skill development activities, I feel that I have grown as an individual. My preferred activity out of the three was the skill aspect. I thoroughly enjoyed playing in a jazz band and pushing myself to become a more experienced player. I believe that I have proved myself to be a valuable member of the team and would most certainly continue to develop my skills as a musician and a team player.
Award is an excellent opportunity for Bangkok Patana students to learn outside of the classroom and engage with experiences that equip young people to meet challenges of the ‘new normal’ and the wider world presents with resilience and empathy.
navigate the mountains. On the journey we encountered many obstacles which led to some conflict among the group. Fortunately, this only strengthened our bond as we learnt to communicate and work together to overcome the challenges. Although the journey was not perfect and we did get lost sometimes, I feel that it was a valuable learning experience and I absolutely enjoyed spending time with my group.
Overall, the DofE Silver Award was a worthwhile experience and will unquestionably be one of the highlights My favourite part was the Adventurous Journey in of my school life. I am definitely looking forward to the Chiang Mai. I found the whole experience extremely Gold Award this year so hopefully it will be as gratifying exhilarating as we were required to work as a team to and enjoyable as the Silver Award.
LUANNE POH, 11M
My favourite part of the Silver Award was our assessed journey to Chiang Mai (Chiang Dao). Our practice journey had been made challenging by numerous factors including the weather conditions, which we had not anticipated. As a result, we went into the subsequent assessed journey with a clearer idea of what to expect. Making the necessary preparations enabled us to enjoy the experience more, as well as build teamwork and camaraderie by helping each other through various challenges. Encouraging each other to persevere boosted morale, leaving us with many great memories.
After completing the DofE’s Bronze Award last year, I was eager to embark on the Silver Award, confident that I would benefit even more from the programme. Having had prior experience with the Award, I went into the Silver programme fully prepared to make the most of the opportunities given to me to learn new skills and make new memories. I took on rock climbing as part of the required activity hours, which I had never tried before. The process of learning a new sport was fulfilling and enriching, and I am immensely grateful to have been given the encouragement and tools needed to challenge myself. 12
Overall, the Silver Award came with its fair share of challenges, but with the help of teammates and teachers, I was able to overcome them and find the motivation to keep going and make the most of the activities. I certainly learned valuable lessons, both about hiking as an activity but also about the preparation and teamwork required to succeed. I hope to participate in sailing for the Gold Award and am certain it will be even more memorable and rewarding.
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MEJA STALBERG, 11P The Silver DofE Award was both mentally challenging but also extremely rewarding. From waking up to the sound of roosters bright and early in the morning to having to walk to camp in the storming rain, each moment on the practice and assessed journey gave me unforgettable memories. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to not only develop more skills through my logged activities but also to have met and gained deeper connections with my fellow group members. Out of all my activities from cooking and gymnastics, I think that I enjoyed my service the most because through my student coaching activity. I learned a lot of new skills in terms of leadership, responsibility and communication but I also learnt a lot about myself that I wouldn’t have found out if it wasn’t for the Silver Award. I learnt that I really do enjoy spending time with younger gymnasts and giving them my own personal advice and I must say that their lively energy was absolutely contagious as they always managed to brighten up my day! Seeing and being able to help them was definitely a highlight for me every week.
Even though it was the toughest part of the Award, my favourite part was the action-based hike we had to do. It was quite physically demanding but through motivation from my friends, I managed to persevere and get through it. Of course, we made mistakes along the way but our strong teamwork really helped when it came to finding solutions. I think the most significant thing the Award taught me was to always keep going even at times when things felt very stagnant and rough. Overall, I’m very grateful for everything DofE has given me.
SOPHIE STEVENS, 11S The Silver DofE Award was an experience that not only pushed me to fill my time with a wider variety of activities, including doing my service in Year 1 classrooms and developing my drawing skills, but also helped me to become a more resilient person through the expeditions. It was full of mental and physical challenges which were extremely rewarding to overcome. It was an adventure that will be a treasured memory and the base of many interesting anecdotes.
enjoy laughing at all of our adventures for many years to come. Having completed the Bronze Award I felt that I was far better prepared for the Silver Award (the small electric fan for nights is worth the extra weight), and although some unexpected challenges arose, I feel that I can be proud of how I met them. Things like leeches, broken tents and flooded sleeping bags will never be fun in the moment, but in hindsight, I’m glad that they happened because I feel mentally tougher, and much closer to the others who were there with me. I also am glad that I got I’m extremely glad the Award pushed me to commit to see a new part of Thailand, and I can’t wait for the to such a range of activities. I have learned so much Gold Award! through engaging with the bouncy six-year-olds I work with every week, and I am definitely more patient. Even if I chose another activity to use for service for my gold award, I’m certain I will return to help out in Primary because it has become one of the highlights of my week. I assure you there is nowhere in the school with quite as much skipping as the Year 1s and 2s building! Looking back through my logs, I’m proud of just how far I have come as both a climber and an artist - the hours were an investment in myself that paid off. As for the Adventurous Journeys - the most exciting aspect of the award - I’m so grateful for the shared experiences and strengthened friendships that came from them, especially as I know that my teammates and I will 21/05/2021
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ARTS COUNCIL Developing a Love of Music and Theatre Henry Brosnahan, Grad’21
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eing involved in Music and Theatre has been one of the biggest highlights of my time at Bangkok Patana. The chance to engage with so many performances, experiences and opportunities has made it such a privilege to be a student of the Arts. Attending Choir and Orchestra was always a highlight of my week as it was a chance to forget about all my stresses and worries and focus solely on music. Singing and playing with such a big group of people helps us to concentrate on bringing the music to life by blending and collaborating with others, building friendships and having fun in the process. My Theatre lessons always helped me to establish one of my deepest passions and I am certain that they are the reason I have chosen to continue my studies in Theatre at university. I can still remember the nervousness of my first rehearsals and performances and how daunting I felt it was; but to anyone feeling this same way and fearing getting more involved in the Arts, I would encourage you to take the first step and join. The Arts community is so welcoming and you will undoubtedly gain so much from the experience. Perhaps most importantly, without the continued support and guidance of the excellent Arts Faculty at Bangkok Patana, this school would not have such an established programme. Their perseverance and dedication helps students to develop their skills in and love of Art, Music and Theatre. Without them, I am sure I would not have come to love the Arts so much, nor would I be the person I am today.
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The Great Bastet Garam (Momo) Lee, 5W (Short Story)
Lazing around is what cats do; we are goddesses after all. I am the great Bastet, ruler of this domain. Once a warrior goddess of the sun, I was worshiped throughout ancient Egypt. Now, my people serve me regal tinned treats twice a day from a magical place called “The Supermarket.” Cleaning out my glorious litter box is a daily ritual for my servants––they seem to enjoy it as much as I enjoy watching them do it. It’s the tall one with the long hair today; just look at that big smile on her face.
What a splendid idea! Thank you, scruffy street cat. Goodbye!
Here we go again: the little one is hobbling towards me, probably trying to get a hug. But it’s easy to escape this slow-witted creature by going to higher ground; I especially like the bookshelf, where I can nap peacefully. Although this place has been acceptable until now, I think I can do better. A goddess should live in absolute luxury. This is why I will be venturing outside today for the first time in my nine lives. The window is open––now’s my chance!
Hello, fellow lions! I’m sure you all know who I am, but I will introduce myself anyway––I am the great Bastet, fierce lioness warrior and goddess of the sun.
The lions will surely recognise me as one of their own. The zoo must be nice if the lions have chosen to live there. Perhaps it will be my new home. This must be the place here on the left. The lions are almost as majestic as I am. Oh look, their servants are bringing them food. That’s a lot of meat! Hmmm… I think I can sneak in through this fence.
“A lioness? Ha! I’ve seen rabbits larger than you, and we eat rabbits.” I assure you, my good lion, that I was once worshipped throughout ancient Egypt. Perhaps you’ve heard of my parents, Ra and Isis?
“And I assure you, little kitty cat, that if I hadn’t just had Why is it so hot out here? Haven’t these people heard of an air conditioner? It’s incredibly noisy as well, and lunch, you would already be slumbering at the bottom of my belly. I suggest that you run, as fast as your tiny feet that smell… absolutely dreadful! will carry you, back to where you came from.” “Pssst, over here!” My body is trembling. What is this feeling? I don’t like Oh, another cat! How pleasant. I am the great Bastet, it. I have to get out of here quickly––away from these fierce lioness warrior and goddess of the sun. And you monstrous lions, away from this place, away from the are…? deafening noise, scorching heat and foul stenches! Run, “Um, I’m Bill. They’re about to throw out the leftovers, so run, you silly cat! come quick if you want lunch.”
Finally, I’m home. It’s dark now. Will they still remember me? Maybe I’ve already been replaced. I should never have left in the first place…
Leftovers? I would rather starve! Filthy … “Are you sure? There’s plenty for everyone, even sun goddesses.”
“Bastet! You’re back! We thought we had lost you. Thank goodness you’re okay.”
“Hey, Bill. Who’s this fancy-looking feline?”
They’re smiling! I’ve never seen them look so happy be“This is Bastet. She’s a lioness sun warrior something.” fore, not even while cleaning my litter box. They really are my people… my family! And this is where I’m supposed “Oh, really? You should go to the zoo, where I’m sure to be. the other lions will welcome you.”
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STUDENTS SPEAK What Are Black Holes and Where Do They Lead? Aarav Roy Chowdhury, 12C
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lack holes are one of the most fascinating things humanity has ever discovered. They are so incredibly dense that even the speed of light (fastest thing known to man), which travels at 299,792,458 m/s, cannot escape from it.
are small but deadly, and are formed when larger stars collapse in. Scientists do not definitively know how supermassive black holes are formed but it is suspected to occur when a black hole collects gas and dust around it, increasing the size of the black hole. Alternatively, it could be many smaller black holes combining together, howevThe idea of a black hole was first proposed by Albert er there is no proven theory on how they are created. SciEinstein in 1916, with his world renowned general theo- entists initially believed that there are only small and big ry of relativity. The first real black hole was discovered in black holes, but recently, they have found that there is a 1971. Black holes form when massive stars reach the end midsize black hole known as an intermediate black hole. of their life cycle, where they implode and collapse in on themselves. The size of a black hole depends on the size One of the biggest questions is where do black holes of the star: the bigger the star, the more massive a black lead to? Professor Massey, a scientist from Durham Unihole. versity, stated ‘falling through the event horizon is literally beyond the veil - once somebody passes through it, nobody could ever get back.’ But scientists throughout history have come up with multiple theories to decipher where they lead to. One of the major theories that has been proposed is the possibility of wormholes - the idea of black holes acting as a gateway and breach to other galaxies. Einstein teamed with Nathan Rosen to theorise ideas of bridges that could connect and join two points in the space time continuum in 1935. Another theory states that if a black hole sucks everything in, then a white hole would shoot everything out. Russian scientist Igor Novikov proposed this idea in 1964, theorising that black holes will allow light and matter to leave, The event horizon is a boundary and region beyond but will not allow it to enter (the function of a black hole). Scientists believe that all the material black holes consume which no light or radiation can escape. could be spewed out, and that they turn into white holes The singularity is a location in spacetime where the mass when they die. and gravity is infinite. Read this on Scientia Magazine here. There are three types of black holes: stellar, supermassive and intermediate black holes. Stellar black holes 16
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Email scientia@patana.ac.th
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UNI COUNSELORS’ CORNER University Application Support Kevin Keller, Head of Careers and Universities
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hile much of the support for Bangkok Patana student university applications come from the Careers and Universities team, I want to take this opportunity to highlight how students are supported by teachers across the school.
dedicated teachers offer weekly sessions in their subject to stretch student learning beyond the usual classroom material and prepare them for the rigorous academic environment unique to these particular universities. Students interested in pursuing medicine also participate in these sessions. Teachers regularly provide mock interviews, adMany university applications require students to submit mission test assistance and subject-based writing evaluaclassroom teacher recommendations. These are crucial to tions. student applications, as they provide admission officers with information about the student’s approach to learnOf course, we know that teachers from subjects around ing, their demeanour in the classroom and the student’s the school are making suggestions to students on how they overall potential for success at university. I’m consistently can explore a subject of interest and even volunteering to impressed with the positivity and support that these letters guide them, no matter what their ultimate university desdemonstrate to support our students’ application for ad- tination is. In fact, when speaking to students about their mission. Many teachers are balancing their normal work university course choice, counsellors hear from students with many reference letter requests - sometimes number- that their choices have been inspired by an engaging lesing 10 or more in a very short period of time! Of course, son or a passionate teacher. not every university gives teachers the opportunity to share There are countless ways that our teachers support our their experiences with our students. In this case, the Careers and Universities counsellors work closely with teach- students to reach their goals for university. From supporters to ensure that we are including each student’s best ing their learning on a daily basis to supporting their university applications when it comes time to leave Bangkok qualities anywhere we can on their application. Patana, students can always rely on our teachers to go The Careers and Universities Faculty also offers ad- above and beyond to help each pupil reach their goals. vanced preparation for applications to the University They certainly have the gratitude of our students and of the of Oxford and University of Cambridge. Each year, our Careers and Universities Team.
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University Offers
Benyapa (Uefa) Benjasiriwan University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business, University of Toronto, University of Nottingham, University of Leeds, University of Surrey and Lancaster University
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Business and Computer Science
'm hoping to attend UBC's Sauder School of Business due to their flexibility in terms of course structure and the unique programmes they provide such as Combined Majors in Business and Computer Science, which I intend to partake in. Additionally, UBC’s friendly atmosphere and focus on student well-being will greatly help my transition into a new environment where I can be assured I am receiving high-quality education whilst also being part of an open-minded community.” “My decision to apply to these universities relied heavily on their programmes and if it suited my interest of Computer Science, Business Management and also artificial intelligence. I also attended multiple webinars and virtual booths to learn more about faculties the campuses provided, work experience opportunities and more.” “I plan on studying a combination of Business and Computer Science. Personally, I enjoy the versatility of computer science and how it can be applied to so many other fields through the use of hardware and software. Aside from that, I believe learning the inner-workings of a business such as financial accounts can be useful when applying it to real businesses and how they operate.” In school, I am a member of the Patana Robotics team, Model United Nations, Patana Animal Welfare Society, Thongbai Daycare and the Ruth Centre project. Out of school, I participate in tennis and dance classes.”
In the Spotlight...
Peking University, People’s Republic of China Founded in 1898 and originally known as the Imperial University of Peking, Peking University (PKU) was the first national university in Chinese history and has been a leading institution of higher education and research in China since its establishment. The University’s core values are defined as “Freedom of thought, Embrace of diversity”. Peking University is inthe northwestern part of Beijing and ranks 23rd in The Times Higher Education Global University rankings for 2021. Peking University’s library is one of the largest libraries in the world, containing over 8 million volumes. Tere are approximately 7,000 international students studying at Peking University.
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#185: Prevent iPhone apps from tracking you
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his article focuses on iPhone, for Android devices then click here.
The App Tracking Transparency feature arrived with iOS 14.5 earlier this month. Unless you give explicit permission to an app (including those made by Apple), it can't use your data for targeted ads, share your location data with advertisers or share your advertising ID or any other identifiers with third parties. When you download and open a new app, you'll get a notification that asks if you want to let the app track your activity across other companies' apps and websites. You'll also see information about what the app would track. You can tap either Ask App not to Track or Allow. You can also opt out of app tracking across every app you download by going to Settings > Privacy > Tracking, and toggling off ‘Allow Apps to Request to Track’. This means any app that tries to ask for your permission will be blocked from asking, and automatically informed that you have requested not to be tracked. And all apps (other than those you've given permission to track in the past) will be blocked from accessing your device's information used for advertising, according to Apple. You can also turn off App tracking on an Apple TV. The steps are similar: From Settings, select General > Privacy > Tracking > Turn off Allow Apps to Ask to Track. If you want to find out more then read How to stop apps from tracking you in iOS 14.5 | Tom's Guide (tomsguide. com). Have a safe weekend. Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration
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Desert Island Discs With Safy Rizk, PTG Tiger Shop Chair
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his column follows in the style of the famed BBC podcast which features a celebrity every week – here we feature our own Bangkok Patana celebrities! What eight songs, one luxury item and one book would you take with you if you were stuck on a desert island? Today Safy Rizk PTG Tiger Shop Manager is stuck on a desert island. MRS RIZK, IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT EIGHT PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Feel - Robbie Williams Blackbird - Sarah McLachlan What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong Feeling Good - Nina Simone Ironic - Alanis Morissette Hotel California -Eagles
Listen to Mrs Rizk’s playlist here
Koop Island Blues - Koop Diya Hai - Arooj Aftab PICK ONE LUXURY ITEM YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU. THIS ITEM MUST BE INANIMATE AND OF NO USE IN ESCAPING THE ISLAND OR ALLOWING COMMUNICATION FROM OUTSIDE. Endless supply of sunblock WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Catch the real Desert Island Discs on BBC. Now that you are stuck at home, what are you listening to? Have a list of your own? Let us know! Contact SHKN with your favourites.
Have you bookmarked next year’s calendar yet? 2021/22 CALENDAR
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Wildlife Spotting with Coke Nests, Mud Puddles and Khlongs! NATURE ESCAPES FROM LOCKDOWN Alexander Coke Smith, Environmental Sciences and Systems Leader
Thailand is such an amazingly biodiverse country. There bird watchers and photographers alike. is so much to offer people of all interest levels and abilities. While viewing nests, it is very important to remain distant This week’s edition will focus on a couple local nesting avian residents, some local Bangkok khlong herps and one and quiet. Nothing is worse than disturbing a nest so much that the parents abandon an active nest. This has hapof the most epic butterfly emersions of all times! pened when people are careless or simply too obtrusive. Rules of thumb – keep your distance, stay quiet and view KAENG KRACHAN BIRDS Let’s start over at Kaeng Krachan, one of Thailand’s for only a short period of time and then move on. premier wildlife locations that one can reach in a mere three hours from downtown Bangkok. At present, many of Thailand’s resident bird species are nesting and rearing their broods for the next generation. This past weekend, my family and I were able to view several species tending their nests. Black-naped Monarchs in particular were so cute with their tiny nests and lovely colours. But the Black and Red Broadbills and their nest building skills and spectacular nature make their active nests very sought after by
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BUTTERFLIES! Many of Thailand’s national parks are famous for their butterfly diversity and numbers. Kaeng Krachan is especially great for good numbers of butterflies and an impressive array of species. This year, however, is an epic onein-a-lifetime bumper year for butterflies! Last weekend we came across hundreds of thousands of lepidopterans fluttering through the open areas of the Kaeng Krachan’s
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forests. Even long-term rangers and Kaeng Krachan veterans will say that the butterfly emersion this year is bigger and more spectacular than ever! If you can make it in the next couple weeks, you may be able to witness this unbelievable event. BANGKOK’S KHLONGS! I have been spending some evenings out along some of Bangkok’s famous (or infamous) khlongs in search of some of Bangkok’s scaly wildlife! In one particular outing we were fortunate to come across several species of local reptiles and amphibians. Now this sort of wildlife watching may not be for everyone and it is definitely not something to undertake if you have no experience with reptiles. Handling them is definitely only for experts but spotting them in the vegetation is something anyone can do. On this week’s expedition we came across one of the rarest and strangest snakes in Southeast Asia – the Tentacled Snake! These are ambush predators that are known to anticipate the movements of their prey! I cannot think of a cooler animal in any group. Contact Coke Smith (cosm@patana.ac.th) for more information.
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For daily updates, snapshots and news on life at school you can find us here...
643 Lasalle Road (Sukhumvit 105) Bangna Tai, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 THAILAND Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 www.patana.ac.th Email: reception@patana.ac.th 24
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